FLORENCE, S.C. – The UNCG women’s soccer team picked up a 2-0 shutout victory on the road against Francis Marion Friday night at Heltzer Field.

“I am proud of our team, we had a game plan coming in scoring two goals and putting up double-digit shots,” head coach Steve Nugent said. “We were in good spots tonight with our aggressiveness and with some sharp passing.”

The Spartans improved to 6-4-1 on the season and the Patriots fall to 0-10 after the loss.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Simmons (Houston, Texas/Clear Brook) only had to make three saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season. Simmons has 52 saves and a 0.61 goals against average in 11 games this season.

UNCG took a season-high 19 shots holding the possession throughout the game against the Patriots.

In the second half, the Blue and Gold struck quickly just three minutes into half on a goal from sophomore Kailyn Deutrich (Herndon, Va./Herndon). Redshirt freshman Kiah Allen (Knoxville, Tennessee/Christian Academy of Knoxville) started the play by sending a ball to classmate Nicole Epstein (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) who crossed a shot into the box where Francis Marion’s keeper Taylor O’Berry made the initial save but Deutrich put home the rebound. It was Deutrich’s first collegiate goal of her career.

The Spartans continued attacking having more chances in the half when sophomore Chesney White (Franklin, Tenn./Franklin) had back-to-back shots inside the box but both went just wide of goal.

In the 62nd minute, sophomore Zoe Fishman (Woodland Hills, Calif./El Camino Real Charter) fired a shot on net but the Patriots’ keeper O’Berry came away with the stop.

In the first half, the Spartans firing taking four shots including a header off the post from sophomore Katherine Rodriguez (Franklin, Tenn./Father Ryan) in the 11th minute.

Moments later after a foul inside the box, Francis Marion was awarded a penalty kick opportunity. Yasmin Bunter stepped up and fired the PK but Simmons made a diving save to her right to keep the Patriots off the board.

With less than a minute remaining in the half, Fishman found freshman Georgia Brown (Dunedin, New Zealand/St. Hilda’s Collegiate) who beat the keeper to give UNCG a 1-0 lead at halftime.

“It was a great ball from Zoe Fishman to find Georgia Brown on the run like that,” said Nugent. “A quality finish from Georgia to put that ball away to give us a boast going into the half.”

UNCG finished the half with a 12-4 advantage in shots. White had four shots tied for the team lead with Rodriguez.

The Spartans head to Charleston, S.C. to continue conference play against The Citadel Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.

Be sure to follow all updates about the 2013 UNCG women's soccer team onwww.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGWSoccer.